St Margaret’s Church of England was officially opened on December 12, 1861. It is the oldest intact church building in Eltham. At the time it was known as Christ Church until its consecration in 1871, when it was completely free of debt (£1,700 for the church and parsonage) despite the district’s poverty. This was largely due to the free labour and materials, including locally made bricks donated by local artisans and others. The church is historically significant because it is the oldest church in the former Shire of Eltham and has associations with the philanthropist and founder of Brighton, Henry Dendy (who donated the land on which the church is built), the architect Nathaniel Billing and the prominent local builder, George Stebbing. The church is architecturally and aesthetically significant because it is constructed in the Gothic Revival style with several stained-glass windows of various dates and is also a very early use of polychromatic brickwork in Victoria. Billing was one of the first Melbourne architects to employ polychromatic brickwork and an important early architect. The rear wall was intended to be temporary. A major feature of the design is the large buttresses with long, steeply graded upper faces. The overall design is well proportioned with the surface brick patterns relieving an otherwise austere design. The church is spiritually and socially significant because it has been an important place of worship for the people of Eltham for almost 150 years. The land on which the buildings stand was donated by Henry Dendy. Dendy arrived in Melbourne in 1841 after purchasing in England eight square miles at Brighton under the system of "special surveys". After this land passed out of his hands, Dendy moved about Victoria, visited England, then returned to settle in Eltham where he purchased a flour mill. Dendy chaired the meeting held in 1860 “for the purpose of devising such means as may be expedient for the establishment of a Church of England in the township of Eltham”. He became chairman and treasurer of the church committee. Unlike the establishment of many early churches in Victoria where a vicar was appointed to a parish and later a permanent church was constructed, the population at Eltham initiated action to build a church. The nearest church at that time was at Heidelberg and the Eltham settlement was part of the parish of St Johns Heidelberg. Isolation and the tedious, time consuming journey between Heidelberg and Eltham resulted in the Eltham community taking its own action. The original vicarage (Dendy House) at the rear of the church is also an important part of the cultural significance of this place because it is connected to the church and the development of the Eltham area. Together, the church and the vicarage are aesthetically significant because they form a significant streetscape feature. The mud-brick community hall designed by Robert Marshall was added in 1978. In 2014 the original temporary rear wall was removed as part of a modern extension designed by Architects Atelier Wagner and constructed by Conrad Construction and Management. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State significance Victorian Heritage Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p67 St Margaret’s Anglican Church in Pitt Street, Eltham, which officially opened on December 12, 1861, is the oldest intact church building in Eltham.1 With the nearby courthouse and police station, it was one of the first permanent community buildings in the district. The church and vicarage are on the Register of the Heritage Council of Victoria and the National Trust of Australia – Victoria. The church is important as an early example of polychrome brickwork by the notable architect Nathaniel Billings. It is also notable for its historic associations with the early settlement of the Shire of Eltham and its connection with Henry Dendy, Brighton’s founder.2 Henry Dendy, who lived in Eltham much longer than at Brighton, chaired the original meeting which planned the church, and he donated the half-acre (0.2ha) site. Dendy had arrived in Melbourne in 1841 after buying eight square miles (20.7sq km) at Brighton while in England. After this land passed out of his hands, he eventually settled in Eltham where he bought a flour mill, west from the corner of Main Road and Pitt Street (then called Brewery Lane). The vicarage was named Dendy House after him. The Eltham settlers were unusual in initiating the establishment of a church. Usually in Victoria a vicar was appointed to a parish and then a permanent church was constructed. But then, the nearest church was at Heidelberg, which was a tedious and time-consuming journey. St Margaret’s builder was a local, George Stebbing, who also constructed the former Methodist, later Uniting, Church at John Street and the Shillinglaw Cottage near Eltham’s Central Park. It is believed the first Anglican Bishop of Melbourne, Bishop Perry, dedicated the church. After the ceremony he joined in the festivities at the nearby pub and a bill was sent to the parish for teas taken there by the bishop with other participants. The first vicar was the Reverend Robert Mackie from 1864 to1866. St Margaret’s Church was originally called Christ Church until its consecration in 1871, when it was completely free of debt (£1700 pounds for the church and parsonage) despite the district’s poverty. This was largely due to the free labour and materials, including local bricks, donated by local artisans and others. St Margaret’s Church is in the Gothic Revival tradition with a buttressed nave, paired lancet windows, porch and bell-cote. It was the first polychromatic brick church in Australia, using softly contrasting coloured brickwork.3 Billing was one of the first architects to introduce polychrome brickwork into Melbourne. His original drawings for St Margaret’s survive in a folio of his architectural work. However the church’s brickwork is more subdued than in his drawings. About half the windows – those in clear glass with gold borders – are original. The stained glass windows were made much later, but the one behind the altar is thought to be the oldest in the Diamond Valley. It was to be temporary until the congregation could afford to extend the church. In the early 1960s the original cedar pews were replaced by blonde timber pews and the originals were sold to restaurants and to private individuals. Eminent local sculptor Matcham Skipper created a crucifix for the church. A major addition was made in 1978, when the weatherboard hall was replaced by a mud-brick hall. Made of local material, it was designed by local architect and a former shire president Robert Marshall. The mud-brick hall reflects the style of building in Eltham of the late 1970s and for which Eltham is well-known. Perhaps because its earthy tones blend with the surrounding environment, the hall sits well with the church building. St Margaret’s membership has included economist and ABC chairman, Richard Downing; political commentator, diplomat and academic, William Macmahon Ball; Eltham civic leader, Charles Wingrove; artist, Peter Glass; and Eltham’s first postmaster, Frederick Falkiner.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, st margaret's anglican church, st margaret's church, st margarets church hall, christ church

'Fulling', the half-hectare property at Pitt Street, Eltham was the home of landscape designer Gordon Ford and his wife Gwen. Ford bought the property in 1948, originally part of an orchard. The garden encapsulates the major trends of Australian garden design in the second half of the 20th century. The garden design is based on mass (plants) and void (paths and pools), textures and forms. It epitomises the Eltham style because of its relaxed informality and attraction to native wildlife. The mud brick house and designed and built by Ford commenced in 1948. Several extensions were added up to 1970 and were built by Graham Rose (Source: information panel for exhibition, n.d.) Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p147 A narrow timber gate opens onto a garden that has had a huge impact on natural garden development in Australia since the 1950s.1 Fulling, the half-hectare property at Pitt St, Eltham, was the home of the landscape designer, Gordon Ford, who died in 1999. The garden ‘encapsulates the major trends of Australian garden design in the second half of the 20th century...and epitomises the Eltham style of garden’.2 It in turn, was influenced by several Victorian major landscape designers of the mid 20th century – Ellis Stones, Peter Glass and Edna Walling. The gate opens onto a sandy gravel path, one of several, which wind around dramatic pools and what appear to be natural bush, but on close inspection are carefully integrated native, indigenous and exotic plantings. Retaining walls and steps of rock through the garden link different terrace levels. Lichen-covered boulders serve as steps across a pool, leading to the triple level mud-brick house. Ford bought the property, which was originally part of an orchard, in 1948. As the son of a Presbyterian minister, Ford received a good education, which included learning Latin. This was advantageous when he worked in plant sales for the Forestry Commission, before the Second World War. In the late 1940s, however, Ford turned to building and landscape gardening. He worked on the Busst house, an early mud-brick building designed by Alistair Knox and at the same time, Ford was employed by Ellis Stones. Knox described Ford as, ‘one of the funniest men of the district. ...Rocky’s (Ellis Stones) Depression stories and Gordon’s memory and quick tongue made the jobs the most enjoyable of all those hysterical times that made Eltham the centre of the eternal laugh, between the years of 1945 and 1950’.3 Ford’s house, like so many after the war, was built progressively, as more space was needed and formerly scarce materials became available. It began with an army-shed of timber-lined walls, now used as the kitchen. Ford then built what is now the lounge room, and the house grew ‘like topsy and on a shoestring,’ says his widow Gwen. A lot of second-hand materials such as window frames were used, a style made famous particularly with their extensive use at Montsalvat, the Eltham Artists’ Colony. The house was constructed as a joint venture with friends, including artist Clifton Pugh, who built Ford’s bedroom for £10. The polished floorboards and solomite (compressed straw) ceilings, interspersed with heavy beams, exude warmth. The result is a home of snug spaces, with soft light and garden vistas. Several other mud-brick buildings were constructed as needed, including a studio and units for bed-and-breakfast clients. The garden, which has been part of the Open Garden Scheme since the mid 1980s, is based on a balance of mass (plants) and void (paths and pools), textures and forms. It epitomises the Eltham style because of its relaxed informal ethos and attracts native animals. Wattlebirds, scrub wrens, pardalotes, currawongs, owls and even kangaroos, have been seen at Fulling. Gwen, a former English teacher who has worked on the garden since around 1970, urged and helped Ford write his book, The Natural Australian Garden.4 Several of Ford’s favourite trees are in the garden, including the native Casuarina or She-Oak. In spring, the garden is dusted with the purple Orthrosanthus multiflorus or blue native irises and rings with the calls of birds attracted to plants like the callistemons, correas and grevilleas.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, fulling, gordon ford garden, pitt street, eltham mud brick buildings, mud brick house

Shows the impact of a major rain event near the Victoria Market and the former creek bed of Elizabeth Street acting as a drain. Cars floated and trams were damaged.Yields information about a major rain event in Elizabeth St during 1972 and the impact it had on vehicles and tramway operations.Set of five black and white photographs of major flooding in Elizabeth St 17-2-1972. Copied by the donor from negatives provided by the photographer.floods, elizabeth st, tramways, events, trams, melbourne

"Melbourne Tramways Past & Present" - set of photos, drawings and notes of (Left to Right, Top to Bottom), Cable tram Richmond Depot employees 1909, Grip mechanism, Photo of the WW1 Honour Board, a horse cab carrying revenue to a bank, Transporting a cable by horse, installing cable to the Windsor line by T Warr & Co 1891, Nicholson St Power House interior, Chief Magistrate of Port Phillip settlement 1836 to 1939 who lived in a house now occupied by Head Office Building, illuminated address to F B Clapp, retirement 1916, drawings by Hal Gye & David Low of J G Roberts Cable Manager, Official & Clerical Staff at Clifton Hill - last line to operate, Depot Employees at Clifton Hill at Final Stage Oct 1940, No. 1 tram becomes Museum piece for National Museum, Australias First Conductresses Aug 1941, Instructor G S Boardman, Decorated peace tram in celebration following armistice 1919, Double deck bus with Conductresses, Royal Park Zoo tram, Openings of PMTT 1910, text box history of the bodies that formed the MMTB, Peter Henry ABC Broadcaster 3-7-1940 on a cable tram, and opening of HTT in 1916. Original poster prepared by the MMTB in 1943 See Reg Item 2854 for a framed photograph and 6367 for another poster of the time - Melbourne tramways past and present poster. See Reg Items 6358, 6122, 6121, 6354 and 6774 for individual photographs.Yields information about the Melbourne tram system and its history to 1943Photograph - of a MMTB Poster titled "Melbourne Tramways Past & Present"tramways, trams, cable trams, richmond, honour board, cash transport, cable ropes, clifton hill, nicholson st, winding house, f b clapp, conductresses, peace tram, double deck buses, zoo horse tram, pmtt, htt, abc

Produced by Robert Schorn, early 1970's shows two of Melbourne icons - Flinders St station and W class trams. SW6 900 northbound in Swanston Street Has the SEC building in the background, a advert for Peter Stuyvesant (cigarettes). The tram has adverts for Pacer pencils and Super Sportz shoes. There is a W2 class tram in Flinders St. A Policeman is on point duty - bottom right of the photo. Published by Colour Tech Productions of Canberra,Demonstrates two iconic images of Melbourne.Postcard - colour - by Colour Tech Productions of Canberra, divided back - card number CTM 107 RPtrams, tramways, flinders st station, swanston street, sw6 class, tram 900

colin mckay, bob henderson, ian kneebone, colin mckenzie, brian smythe, peter hedley, bob mcgauchie, max lane, jim firth, alfie freeman, rhonda allen, margaret whiting, olive slaughter, pat traeger, margaret watts, dawn cupper, k. traeger, doris allen, dawn woodberry, shirley palmer, june broadstock, j. barrow, g. simmons, k. mckay, bill connors, don rix, s. allen, n. hedley, lester bull, j. simmons, ainslie cupper noel sawyer, alan bull, the lake state school, schools

Contents: • Our Congratulations and thanks to Russell Yeoman • Our Next Meeting - 2.00pm Saturday 12th August 2023 • Heritage Excursion - Saturday 2nd September 2023 - Shillinglaw Farm Walk • Writing Local History in Florence by Deirdre Pirro • One hundred years ago by Jim Connor • Sands and McDougall Directories by Jim Connor • The MEN behind the Names – Eltham Roll of Honour Board (Part I) by Terry Beaton • Judge Book Village: from Willandra to St Vincent's by Richard Pinn • Snowfall Memories by Peter Pidgeon • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Liz Pidgeon o Agnes Somerville Irvine, nee Wanliss, 1867-1954, First Lady The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society

dorothy griffiths, val storer, len hudson, les willcock, gwenda griffiths, louis? stanton, anne cossens, val potter, peter willcock, bob stephenson, wilma stephenson, lorraine mcrae, john cossens, valda sylvia, birthday parties

BHS CollectionCopy of a newspaper article titled Family saga continues at Long Gully George to the fore. A photo of George is included and printed under it it mentions that George Ellis is the new secretary of the Cornish Association of Bendigo and District. George's father, George A., is the associations long-serving president, while his mother Edna served as treasurer for many years. Sir John Quick is also mentioned. He was born in Cornwall.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - george to the fore, the cornish association of bendigo and district, george ellis, george a ellis, leanne lloyd, edna ellis, ted hocking, rob lloyd, peter mundy, cornish association of victoria, eaglehawk fire station, william trahair, st matthew's anglican church, bendigo city masonic lodge, cornish choir, corowa historical society, dr john quick, sir john quick, white hill cemetry, peter and catherine moyle

Yields information about the appearance of Geelong's Birney trams during the 1940's.Black and White Photograph of Geelong 's Scrubber or Track cleaning tramcar, in the early SEC colour scheme, either mid 1930's to early 1940's. Has the National Bank in the background and a Coffee Palace alongside. Peter Duckett Collection. Dave O'Neil confirmed June 30/2009, Moorabool St, just past Malop St towards depot.On rear, stamped in black ink "Photo supplied from P.W. Duckett Collection, All Rights Reserved, 69 Howitt Rd. Nth Caulfield 3161."trams, tramways, geelong, scrubber tram, track cleaner, moorabool st, tram track cleaner, tram scrubber

Yields information about the appearance of Bendigo steam tram motors and trailers.Black and White Photograph of Geelong No. 27, Birney tram, showing "Newtown" as the destination and a "Pay as You Enter" sign. Photo taken during the 1940's, before the tram went to Bendigo. Peter Duckett Collection. Dave O'Neil confirmed June 30/2009, photo taken at Aphrasia St, near Pleasant St Loop, the tram travelling to Newtown. The house behind the tram is still there.On rear, stamped in black ink "Photo supplied from P.W. Duckett Collection, All Rights Reserved, 69 Howitt Rd. Nth Caulfield 3161."trams, tramways, geelong, birney, newtown, tram 27

Card has a Peter Duckett photo of Ballarat Horse Tram No. 1 and a historical note about the tramcar and its reconstruction. On the reverse is a photo of an ESCo tram hauling a horse tram trailer. This photo was used as a Christmas card by Peter.Demonstrates an informative card using Peter Duckett's photos.Printed colour card with photo inserttramcars, sturt st, tram 1, horse trams, btps